The Top Blog Posts of the Week

by the Contributing Editors of SBC Today

This is a list of recent blog posts which we found interesting.  That we found them interesting doesn’t mean we necessarily agree with or endorse the ideas presented in the posts, but that we found them to be intriguing and thought-provoking.  (They are listed in no particular order of interest). Please post your comments to discuss  any article that strikes your interest. If you have recent blog posts to nominate, please send the link to sbctoday@gmail.com.

About Theology

• “Owen on Sealing,” by Stephen Garrett in the Baptist Gadfly blog, with a citation from John Owen regarding the ordo salutis, affirming that Eph. 1:13-14 and 1 John 3:24 support the notion that regeneration does not precede faith and justification (and thus the sealing of the Holy Spirit is later, a kind of “second blessing”), but is coincident with faith and justification.
• “The Selective Grace of God,” by Hariette Peterson in the Selah V Today blog, about how God’s grace impacts even people who do not recognize it.
• “Compatibilist Middle Knowledge,” by Randy Everist in the Possible Worlds blog, arguing that the “compatibilist middle knowledge” view is incoherent.
• “Lose Your Salvation? The Gift You Did Not Deserve or Earn? No Way!” by Fletcher Law in Fletcher Law and Grace Ministries, answering a question about losing one’s salvation.
• “Understanding and Responding to Franke’s Foundationalism,” by Jared Moore in the SBC Voices blog, evaluating the foundationalism in John Franke’s book The Character of Theology.
  

About the SBC

• “Who Is Reforming Us?” by Rick Patrick in the SBC Voices blog, connecting the strategy of Founder’s founder Ernest Reisinger to take over the SBC for Calvinism with recent events.
• “The Calvinists Are Here, Gerald Harris, and the Christian Index,” by David Brumbalow in the Gulf Coast Pastor blog, providing an appreciative reading of Harris’ article, and a copy of it, in case you haven’t read it.
• “Please, Someone Correct the Facts of the Editorial by Gerald Harris, Part 1” and “Part 2,” by Tim Rogers in the Southern Baptist in North Carolina blog, with a response to the responses to Harris’ editorial in the Christian Index about the rise of Calvinism in the SBC.
• “Baptist Press: The CNN of the Baptist World!” by Howell Scott in the From Law to Grace blog, with a critique of the BP coverage of Gerald Harris’ article in the Christian Index on the rise of Calvinism in the SBC.
• “Affinities, Alliances, and Agendas in the SBC, Part 1 and Part 2, by Howell Scott in the From Law to Grace blog, with an interesting analysis of the crosscurrents in SBC life.
• “Restoring Southern Baptist Polity,” by Rick Patrick in the SBC Voices blog, with a plea for a return to congregational polity and for more transparency in convention business.
• “Judson’s 200^th: Please Go and Dig,” “A Love that Endures: The Legacy of Ann, Sarah, and Emily Judson,” “Judson’s Spiritual Formation: Sketches from His Pre-Baptist Days,” and “Adoniram Judson: A Profound Calling,” by Jason Deusing, Candi Finch, Robert Caldwell, and Keith Eitel, in the Theological Matters blog, with four articles recounting the life of Adonirum Judson.
• “Is Orthodoxy Enough? The Future of the SBC,” by Dave Miller in SBC Voices, arguing that orthodoxy must be matched with orthodoxy and orthokardia.
  

About Ministry and Worship

• “Community Assessment: Identifying and Responding to Local Ministry Opportunities,” by Tobey Pitman in the Church Breaking Out blog, advocating the importance of community assessment for churches.
• “The Pastor’s Duty,” by Chris Roberts in the SBC Voices blog, underscoring the imperative of a Word-based ministry.
• “A Few Thoughts on DNow’s,” by Alvin Reid on his blog, with a thoughtful list of do’s and don’ts for more effective Disciple Now weekends.
• “The Misfits of the Church,” by Dan Edelen in the Cerulean Sanctum blog, reflecting on those persons we tend to marginalize in churches who are the stuff of the Kingdom of God.
• “Sermon Illustrations No One Else Is Using,” by Joe McKeever on his blog, with the recovery of a new source for illustrations.
• “Eight Traits of Legacy Leaders,” by Thom Rainer on his blog, listing eight traits that leaders with staying power practice.
• “Let’s Have More Worship Wars,” by Russell Moore in the Moore to the Point blog, with a reflection on the primary focus of worship.
• “Musical Thought in the Early Church,” by Phillip Morgan in the Helwys Society Forum, reflecting on the approach of the early church to music both for worship and from secular songs.
• “Wearing Someone Else’s Armor,” a sermon by Paige Patterson in the Theological Matters blog, beginning a sermon series on “The Shepherd King.”

About the Personal Devotional Life

• “The Evangelistic Fire Chief,” by Toby Pitman in the Church Breaking Out blog, with a story about how God used a Fire Marshall’s threat to close down a chapel for the homeless to multiply the ministry’s evangelistic efforts.
• “What Is It that Knowing Christ Does for You Right Now?” by Waylon Bailey on his blog, listing some of the blessings that believers experience in this life.
• “Taking Passages Seriously,” by Randy Everist in the Possible Worlds blog, about what it means to take Scriptures such as the command to love in 1 John 3:13-15 seriously.
• “Growing toward Glorifying God Physically,” by Kathy Steele in the Christian Counselor’s Musings blog, about how we should honor God through our bodies.
• “God Still Uses Ordinary Means and Ordinary Men,” by Erik Raymond in the Ordinary Pastor blog, reflecting from Ezra 4 about God using normal people and events to accomplish His work.

About Christians and Society

• “Today, I Am Catholic,” by Waylon Bailey in his blog, showing solidarity with the Catholics who stood against the Obama administration policies about health care which marginalized freedom of religion.
• “’We Try to Respect Religious Beliefs’ – Mr. Kristof Rewrites the Constitution,” by Al Mohler on his blog, with a critique of New York Times’ columnist Nicholas Kristof’s understanding of the Constitution.
• “President Obama, Health Care, and the ‘Unconstrained Vision,’” by Chad Brand in the Brandishings blog, characterizing the President’s health care decisions in light of an idealistic, utopian vision.
• “Is There Really a War on Religion in America?” by Dave Miller in the SBC Voices blog, citing several recent events which appear to place religious liberties in question, and suggesting how Christians should respond to it.
• “Santorum Is the Right Candidate,” with a link to an AP article, “Santorum Amplifies Faith in Ways GOP Rivals Don’t,” by Les Puryear in the Joining God in His Work blog, citing evidence that Republican candidate Rick Santorum’s beliefs are closest to those of most conservative evangelicals.